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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Countdown to Armageddon..., July 8, 2008
First let me state that I have been a fan of the Vampire Huntress Legend (VHL) series from the beginning and I have posted reviews on randomly selected books in the set. I truly admire the author's ingenuity and seemingly limitless creativity as she takes the reader on an action-packed, mystical ride to Armageddon one book at a time. She filled a much needed void in the speculative fiction genre when she gave us Damali and friends. That being said, I found The Shadows, the eleventh installment, to be a weaker link; hence the three-star rating (I would give it a 3.5 star rating if I could). There is no doubt that dedicated fans of the series will enjoy this book as it provides a necessary "breather" between battles (aka the systemic breaking of the doomsday Biblical seals). The team's pace is slowed but their attempt at rest and relaxation is foiled by the Darkness (again). Fallon Nuit is back and he is flooding the global airwaves with subliminal negativity. Through mass media, he is brainwashing the masses robbing them of their joy, hope, love, and light and replacing it with self-destructive thoughts; inspiring murderous and heinous intentions against mankind. In an attempt to draw the Guardian teams out of hiding to finish them while they are battle fatigued, the Darkness is scorching the earth with uncontrollable forest fires, flooding cities, destroying lives and farmlands with volcanic eruptions, tornados, tsunamis, etc. In the meantime, it seems like Carlos and/or Damali will never learn from their previous mistakes - and it is Carlos (again) that blows their cover. Carlos's well-intentioned blunder compromises their location and they are soon on the run (again) seeking safety in Detroit with civilians (children and elderly) in tow. Meanwhile, Lilith nurses the damaged Anti-Christ chrysalis back to health. Elizabeth Bathory resurrects her first husband, Dracula, to exact revenge on Sebastian for causing her horrifying disfigurement. Dracula, instantly celebrated and elevated to a day-walking Councilman, leads the affront against the Neteru team. The direct and indirect results are devastating for both sides, particularly for Carlos; but it does nothing to stop the prophesies as the infamous and dreaded Pale Horse emerges from the depths of Hell. The End of Days is quickly approaching and the team is scrambling to regroup (again). At its core, I found this book to be yet another episode where the Neteru team appeared to be clueless and in a reactive stance for most of the novel. It is a familiar scene that we have seen repeatedly before -- they are either under-equipped, outnumbered, and/or experience an epiphany at the VERY last minute - just in the nick of time to save themselves. At best, Carlos and Damali's leadership abilities are still questionable (my opinion only): Their overactive libidos have resulted in an "unplanned" pregnancy at what appears to be the worst time ever (however, I'm sure the Light will prove otherwise). They appear to have no proactive plan and continuously rely largely on instinct (and luck) to save their team -- they just seem to be fumbling and stumbling; making it up as they go along. The rebuilding of the Neteru team literally introduces so many new characters that I am finding it difficult to keep them (and their abilities) straight. Honestly, in this episode, I found Damali and Carlos's drama and angst well, quite frankly - boring. Sorry - but the pregnancy subplot is not working for me and there were just too many pages of team member introspection and their personal reflections. These elongated passages of "fluffy" dialogue really did not seem to advance the story. It was the "bad guys" that kept me turning the pages. Lilith, Elizabeth, Dracula and the others were much MUCH entertaining and easier to follow in all aspects -- they are a smaller, devious group which makes it easier track their interrelationships and group dynamics. Their endless bickering, twisted (but clever) antics, and ruthless plotting (against the Light and each other) along with their uncanny resourcefulness kept me engaged. Readers: Fear not -- there is enough of the fan-pleasing elements of steamy sex, urban grittiness, and diabolical plotting to keep die-hard fans happy. Despite the shortcomings I noted, I enjoyed the book; but compared to others in the series, it was more of a challenge for me to complete. As mentioned earlier, I was and I am still a fan of the VHL series - I am looking forward to the next release to see where we will go next because I am committed to the series until the end. Reviewed by Phyllis June 19, 2008 APOOO BookClub
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book 11 is just as Powerful and Explosive as its predecessor!, July 10, 2008
This book was so good that I just don't know where to begin. *sigh* So, I guess I'll start at the beginning and try not to give away any spoilers. The Shadows is the 11th book in the 12-book Vampire Huntress Legend (VHL) Series written by L.A. Banks. The Dark Realms are hiding out after the angels from On High put them in their place; however, don't count them out yet! The fourth Biblical seal has been broken and the team doesn't know it, but the Anti-Christ isn't dead. He's recovering under the watchful eye of Lilith and the one who shall remain nameless. The Darkness leaders are still recovering from their wounds, but in due time they will heal and one will seek revenge. Their deceit and treachery will lead to the resurrection of one of the most infamous vampires of all time. Yonnie and Val are now a part of the Neteru team. With their special powers, it is hard to keep anything from these two...which is why they will soon discover a hidden secret that the Neteru's are keeping from the Guardian Team. However, their powers will come in handy in the next battle. Yes, the one who shall remain nameless is still fuming over his latest defeat and is out for revenge. He's planning to bring the battle topside, unleashing a full-frontal assault on mankind for the offenses committed by the Vampire Huntress team. This time, Damali and Carlos must address serious human casualties and collateral damage...all while Nuit rebuilds Blood Music to become a record label that will unleash media brainwashing on everyone that hears or watches anything by them. Will the Guardian Team be victorious in the end? The Shadows is a must read for all VHL Fans. This book is good from the beginning to the end! I'm already crying because this is book 11 in a 12-book series. The Shadows was a real rollercoaster ride! It had me high and giddy at times, only to bring me down and then take me up again. This book had me going so bad that I was talking to the characters in this book as if they were real people. Also, Carlos really impressed me when he went into battle to protect his own. I got an adrenaline rush just reading about the battle. The battle scene was described so vividly that I honestly thought that I was there viewing it! The only thing that I didn't like about the book was that it ended. Believe me when I say that T he Shadows truly deserves 5 stars and is a must read! Reviewed by LaShonda Bates for Urban Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best, but needed, July 15, 2008
I love the VHL series, but I have to admit... this one was a little shaky. The Shadows suffers from being the bane of any good story - the set up for the finale. Yes, we are treated to several action sequences, but the ending is very abrupt, a giant neon "To Be Concluded..." sign in the dark. My one complaint, other than the fact this is a setup book for Book 12, is she has a little too much of the back and forth "meanwhile, in hell... meanwhile, with the crew..."; enough to make one a little dizzy. All in all, a good book in the series, but not one that can truthfully stand by itself. Left me wanting for a LOT more - hopefully, Book 12 won't be delayed too much by the new werewolf series.
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